Don't allow N-deal to be hijacked by parties: scientists

Noting that the Indo-US nuclear deal is in the interest of the country, former scientists of BARC say the agreement should not be hijacked by political parties.

Noting that the Indo-US nuclear deal was in the interest of the country, former scientists of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) have said the agreement should not be hijacked by political parties.

"With the country's ever increasing energy needs and with a view to end the 33-year-long nuclear isolation, the importance of the deal has to be understood by the people of India and should not be hijacked by the Opposition and the political parties supporting the UPA government," the scientists said in a statement.

They condemned the Oppositon and the Left parties for questioning the integrity of the PM over the civil nuclear agreement.

"Indo-US Cooperation on the Civilian Nuclear Programme and the Agreement is now being called a `deal' and our Prime Minister is being targeted as if he has made some underhand `deal' with the US," the statement said.

"Some political parties, including ones supporting the Government, are doubting the integrity of the Prime Minister and this is a matter of national shame," said the statement signed by AK Anand, former Director, Reactor Projects Group and Director Technical Coordination and International Relations Group and others.

"The Opposition is talking of the Hyde Act and saying that if India carries out a nuclear test in future, all nuclear cooperation will end. But we do not even know if at all and when, in the distant future, a test will be required by the nation," it said.